Braiding machine



March 17, 1931. PETERSEN 1,796,938

BRAIDING' MACHINE Filed prl 24 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 17, 193.1.

` A. PE'rr-:Rsl-:N

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Abril `24. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 17, i931. A. PETERSEN annum@ MACHINE Filed April 24, 1928 5 Sheelzs-Sheel 5 L" l l Y ....illllwl 'lill/111111111.

March 17, 1931. A. PE'ERsl-:N

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed April 24. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 17, 1931. PETERSEN 1,796,938

` B RAIDING Adama Filed April 24. 1928 5 Sheets-.Sheet 5 Patented 17, 1931 n ANKER PETERSEN, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS BRAIDING MACHINE Application med April a4,

rIhis invention pertains to braiding machines of that kind in which two series of bobbins are caused to revolve in opposite directions in order to intertwine their yarn at a centrally disposed braiding point. Heretofore I have devised many improvements in such machines and have obtained patents covering some at least of such improvements. Amon these patents may be mentioned No. l,331,6 2, dated February 24, 1920 and No. 1,638,455 dated August 9, 1927 as typical of my previous development of this art.

Machines built in accordance with the teachings of my prior patents are eminently l5 satisfactory under usual conditions and, as I believe, are more rapid in operation, more economical of power and cost for labor, and are cheaper to construct and require fewer repairs than any-other usual braiding machine, but practical experience extending over a long period, in which I have observed `the operation of my patented machines under commercial conditions, has led me to devise the further improvements Aconstituting .2 the subject matter of the present invention.

Among the advantages which I have endeavored to attain and which are accomplished by the present invention may be mentioned greater ease in threading up the machine, whether in applying a fresh bobbin or tying up a broken end; the permissive use of the machine with its axis of rotation horizontal, which is a very real advantage when the machine is used for vcovering heavy and stiff cables, electrical conductors, or the like;

the provision of means for preventing accumulation of lint and dirt with consequent diminished danger from fire, lesser care on the part of the attendant, and more continuous operation; the great ease of operation of the moving parts so that a minimum driving fore-e is required and incidentally a decrease in noise from the moving machine Vparts; the provision of improved and .sim-

plied mechanical means for automatically stopping the machine upon exhaustion,

' breakage or slack tension of yarn of either the inner or outer series of bobbins; improvement in the character and quantity of the material produced; reduction of the cost 1928. Serial No. 272,394.

-of the machine to a minimum; together with other and minor advantages and improvements which will hereinafter be pointed out more in detail.

v In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated certain desirable embodiments of the present invention by way of example and for the instruction of those wishing to build mechanisms using the present improvements, but I wish it to be understood that as to its broader features at least, the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific embodiment here chosen for illustration and that various changes in the arrangement and proportions of parts and the substitution of equivalents for the elements herein shown may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventiOn. In the drawings,

Fig. l is a vertical, diametrical section, partly broken away and with parts omitted, of the head of the improved braiding machine constituting the subject matter of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, with certain parts broken away and others omitted, and to larger scale than Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation showing a trip device forming part of a stop motion mechanism, from the right-hand side of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section to large scale substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary outer end elevation of one of the bobbin carriers of the inner series, showing the driving means therefor;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the warp levers;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9--9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a diametrical section of one of the supporting wheels for an inner bobbin-carrier;

Fig. 11 isa diagrammatic side elevation showing the machine arranged with its axis horizontal for applying the braided covering/V to a cable or conduit; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section similar to F ig. l, but showing a modified construction.

The frame of the machine comprises a spider having arms 20 radiating from the hub 21, and the rim portion 22, having a seat for the cam ring 23 provided with the cam groove 24. The hub 2l carries the fixed hollow shaft 25 which supports the braiding die 26 having a central aperture defining the braiding point. If the machine is to be used for covering a core, for example an electrical cable or conductor, the opening in the braiding die is made suiiiciently large to accommodate this core which is progressed longitudinally through the shaft 25 as the braided covering is laid about it.

A sleeve 26 turns on the shaft 25, the lower end of the sleeve 26 preferably resting upon an anti-friction bearing 27 carried by the hub 21. Any suitable type of anti-friction bearings 27 a may be interposed between the hollow shaft 25 and the sleeve 26. The hub 28 of a spider device is splined to the sleeve 26, and this spider device carries an annular gear 29 which meshes with a pinion 30 on a drive shaft 3l. The hub 28 supports the inner race 32 of a ball bearing, and the outer race 33 of this bearing supports the hub 34 of a ring member to which an annular gear 35 is secured. This gear 35 also meshes with the pinion 30 which drives the gears 29 and 35 in opposite directions.

The member 34 supports a plurality of spaced arms 36 which carry a ring 37 concentric with and spaced inwardly from the cam ring 23. A secondary ring member 38 is secured to the upper edge of the ring 37, or may be integral therewith, if desired, and the member 38 carries inwardly projecting arms 39 preferably connected by a circumferentially extending ring 40. The arms 39 continue inwardly beyond the ring 40, as shown in 41, and their ends are united by means of a guide ring 42 concentric with the ring 37. The opposed faces of the rings 37 and 42 are provided with grooves 43 and 44 respectively, constituting guideways for the inner series of bobbin carriers hereinafter more-fully described. Each of the grooves 43 and 44 is provided with-spaced side walls which are normally circumferentially continuous so that when a carrier has once been engaged with these grooves it is held positively in position, and while free to move circumferentially is constrained against substantial axial movement. With this arrangement, it is possible to run the machine with its axis of rotation horizontal or in any other desired position, since the carriers are confined at both ends and can not fall out. At some suitable point, either in the ring 37 or the ring 42 a removable section is provided to permit insertion and removal of carriers when desired, but this removable -section is.

normally held rmly in position so that the Lacasse continuity of the rings is unbroken during normal operation.

A hub member 45 is secured to the sleeve 26 and this hub member carries a plurality of radial arms 46 supporting brackets 47, each having bearings for a shaft 48. Preferably these shafts are inclined as indicated in Fig. l, and each shaft supports a carrier-driving roll 49 which may be of felt or any other suitable material, and a gear 50 fixed With relation to the roll 49 and engaging an annular gear 5l carried by the ring 37. The rotation of the members 46 with the hollow shaft 26 causes the brackets 47 with their shafts and carrier-driving rolls to revolve about the axis of the machine in one direction, while at the same time the ring 37 with its gear 5l turns in the opposite direction, and thus each gear 50 with its drive roll 49 is rotated at high speed. Preferably the hub member 45 carries an oil guard 52 partially enclosing the hub 34 and protecting the ball-bearings in the races 32 and 33 from dirt, while at the same time preventing oil from escaping from the bearings and coming into contact with the thread.

The ring 4() forms a convenient support for a series of bracket-s 53 attached to the ring in any suitable manner and spaced at regular intervals circumferentially of the ring. These brackets support the bobbins of one series which, for convenience in description, is hereinafter referred to as the outer series and the brackets 53 are referred to as the bobbin-carriers of the outer series. The brackets are of sufficient height to accommodate bobbins of the desired diameter. For convenience in construction these brackets are provided with removable plates 54 (Fig. 5) at their outer ends, such plates forming the outer Walls of slots 55 extending downwardly from the upper ends of the brackets and adapted to receive the spindle ends 56 of the spools or bobbins 57. These spools or bobbins carry the yarn masses Y and the bobbins are retained in operative position by means of latch devices 57 pivoted at 57a to the sides of the brackets and normally held in operative position by means of a spring 58. Each latch has a hook portion 59 adapted to engage over the bobbin spindle 56 to hold the latter in the lower part of the slot 55, and preferably the latch has an inclined or beveled upper surface 60 against Which the ends of the spindle may be pressed to swing the latch out of operative position preparatory to inserting the ends of the bobbin spindle in the slot 55. The brackets may be provided with slots 55 and latches 57 at each -side for engagement with opposite ends respectively of the spindle 56, or alternatively, a simple bearing opening may be proopposite side of the bracket to permit application and removal of the bobbin.

A warp lever is associated with each of the brackets 53 and a bracket 61 (Figs. l and 8) is secured to the outer surface of the ring 37 for supporting each such warp lever. Each bracket 6l comprises a spacer member 62 which is cut away at its inner' side at 63 to form a recess for the reception of a part of the warp lever, as hereafter described. The member 62 is provided with a pivot pin 65 about which the warp lever swings. The warp lever, as here shown, comprises a substantially rigid base portion, preferably comprising two elongate strips 66 and 67 of sheet metal or other suitable material, spaced apart to straddle over the spacer member 62 and having aligned journal openings for the reception of the pivot pin'65. One of these members 67 has its pivotal end disposed in the recess 63, while the other engages the outer surface of the part 62.

from looseness.

To make the lever as rigid as possible, I prefer to weld or otherwise iixedly unite the ends of strips 66 and 67 to the pivot pin 65, thus forming an integral structure.V The members 66 and 67 converge and are united at the point 68 by means of any suitable connection, for example a pin 68 constituting a pivot for an anti-friction cam-follower here shown as a block 69. The pivot pin 68 is also welded to the lever so as to be rigid and free The cam-follower /block is disposed in the cam groove 24, but is spaced from the circumferential wall of said groove as indicated at 71.

'Ihe radially wide bearing for the lever, afforded by the widely spaced members 66 and 67 disposed at opposite ends of the spacer 62, substantially prevents any movement of the lever toward or from the axis of the machine, and the rigid structure of the base portion of the warp lever, together with-this extended bearing, positively prevents camfollower 69 from engaging the circumferential wall 70 of the cam slot even though subjected to the action of centrifugal force when the machine is driven at high speed. Moreover, the rigid lever resists the inward pull of the yarn, so that the usual lever guide is unnecessary, and thus friction of the lever against such guide, as well as that of the camfollower on the bottom of the cam groove is eliminated, the lever swinging freely and noiselessly throughout its arc of movement. Wear on the parts is thus reduced, and the power required for driving the machine is greatly lessened. The warp lever is extended beyond the pin 68 as shown at 72, and this free end portion of the lever is preferably curved substantially concentric with the cam ring 23. The free end of the lever is furnished with a thread-guide aperture 73 which is disposed radially opposite to a vertical slot 74 in the ring 37.

The yarn Y from the bobbin passes down through a guide eye in a bracket 75 secured to the ring member 38, and thence through the `hook end 76 of a combined detector and tension lever 77 carried by a shaft 78 journaled in bearings 79 supported by the ring member 38. A coiled spring 8O mounted on the shaft 78 constantly urges the detector or tension iinger 77 upwardly, thereby ten-r sioning the yarn passing through the eyes in the bracket 75 and the hook 76. The yarn passes from the hook 76 through a guide opening in a hook 65a secured in the outer end of the pivot pin 65, thence longitudinally of the warp lever to the opening 73, and thence through the slot 74 in the ring 37 and beneath the ring 42 to the braiding point defined by the die 26.

The bobbins 81 of the inner series are journaled in suitable bearings in bobbin-carriers 82. These bobbin-carriers are provided with supporting elements, here shown as antifriction rollers 83 and 84 at their outer ends which engage the guideway 43 in the ring 37, and the carriers are provided at their inner ends with supporting elements, here shown as rollers 85 which engage the guideway 44. The rollers 83, 84 and 85 are preferably provided with anti-friction bearings of the oil-enclosed type so that it is unnecessary to oil these rollers except at long intervals. The carriers thus mounted are very free to move circumferentially in the path defined by the grooves 43 and 44, but can not escape from these grooves even though compelled to revolve in a vertical plane.

Each carrier 82 is provided with a roll 86 mounted to turn freely and provided with oil-retaining anti-friction bearings if desired. This roll 86 preferably is provided with a tire 86Et of rubber or other suitable soft and resilient material, preferably having a fiat peripheral surface, and is adapted to be engaged by one of the driving rollers 49, above described, so that as :ch driving roller 49 revolves about the axis of the machine, it propels a carrier ahead of it. However, the rolling Contact of the rolls 49 and 86 permits free passage of the yarn Y between them 4at the proper times in the braiding operation, and the resilient tire on the roller 86 prevents abrasion of the yarn. In order to prevent over-running of the carriages 82 when the machine slows down or stops, which would result in tangling the thread, I prefer to provide limiting rolls 49a carried by the brackets 47 and normally disposed respectively in front of but just out of contact with the rolls 86; If the carriage starts to run ahead'of the driving roll 49, the roll 86 engages the roll 49i and thus limits its movement, but without interfering withits normal freedom of operation. Inf'order to avoid undue lost'motion between the roll 8G and 49a I prefer to mount the latter upon an ad-v j ustable bracket 87 so that it may be set at the desired distance from the roll 86, and may be adjusted to compensate for wear of the latter roller.

rlhe carriage 82 is provided with a shaft 88 journaled in suitable bearings therein, such ,shaft having an arm 89 which supports a feeler or detector bar 90. The yarn X. from the bobbin 81 passes over the bar 90, and the latter is normally held upwardly in tensioning relation to the yarn by means of a spring 91 encircling the shaft 88. I preferably provide the carriage 82 with a tensioning device 92 which bears against the thread mass on the bobbin. This tensioning device preferably comprises a resilient member attached at one end to a bar 92a fixed to the carriage, having its free end frictionally engaging the thread mass. A stop bar 92b may be pro# vided to finish movement of the part 92 when the bobbin is removed. Preferably a similar tension device 93 is applied to each bobbin of the outer series.

Each of the brackets 75, above referred to, is provided with a vertical slot serving as a guide for the free outer end of a vertically swinging striker lever 94. Each striker lever is journaled to turn freely upon the shaft 78 which carries the corresponding detector or tension arm 77.

The free end of the striker lever 94 normally rests by gravity in thelower part of its guiding slot. rl`he striker lever is provided with a second arm 95 at the o-pposite side of its fulcrum point, and this arm 95 is disposed beneath a hook-line arm 96 secured to a shaft 97 journaled in bearings 97, carried by the ring 40. An arm 98 is fixedly secured to the shaft 97 and this arm extends upwardly and bears against the yarn mass Y on the bobbin. A spring 99 encircling the shaft 97 urges the arm 98 into contact with the yarn mass and when the yarn is exhausted upon the bobbin this spring causes the shaft 97 to turn until the member 96 engages the arm 95 of the striker lever, thus raising the lever to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 1.

A trip device (Fig. 1) is mounted upon the member 22 at a suitable point in the circumference of the machine. This trip device comprises an upstanding bracket 100 carrying spaced bearings 101 for a rotary trip shaft 102. This shaft is provided with a pin 103 disposed in such a position that when the y striker arm 94, associated with any one of the bobbin carriers of the outer series, is elevated to the dotted line position 94, Fig. 1, it will engage the trip pin 103 and thereby rotate the trip shaft 102. The pin 103 is also adapted to be engaged by any one of the tensioning or detector lingers 77 if such finger be raised substantially from its normal position. Such abnormal lifting of the tension detector finger may be the result of unusual slack in the yarn or by breakage of the yarn. rllhe lifting of the finger being occasioned by the action of the spring 80 above-described.

A spring 102g* engaging an eccentric pin 102b shifter, or clutch, for stopping the mechanism which drives the machine. Suitable means, such for example as a spring or weight, tends to move the link 109 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, and such movement is normally opposed by the engagement of the latch 106 with the flat side 104of the shaft 102, but when the shaft is turned, as above-described, the latch 106 is released and the lever 107 is then free to swing to the dotted position whereupon the machine is stopped. rllhe parts may be reset by manual actuation of a handle 110 on the lever 107.

Immediately below one ofthe striker levers free end of a lever 112, (Fig. 3) journaled at 113 in a bearing conveniently supported by the next adjacent arm 39. A coiled spring 114 seated in a socket 115 in the arm 39a encircles the pin 111 and bears against the lever 112, normally tending to depress the pin 111. The upper end of the pin 111 normally bears against the under surface of the arm 94 adjacent to the shaft 78 upon which the arm 94 is fulcrumed.

The arm 39:l is provided with depending bracket members 116 furnishing bearings for a shaft 117 to which is fiXedly secured a cam member 118 having a flat surface 119 which underlies the free end of the lever 112 during the normal operation of the machine.

The shaft 117 is provided with an arm 120 which is disposed in such a position as to be engaged by any one of the detector arms- 89 of the bobbin-carriers 82 of the inner series when such detector arm is raised to abnormal position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Vhen such a detector arm occupies'this abnormal elevated position it is brought by revturning the cam shaft 102, releasing the latch 106 and causing the machine to stop.

Thus, if the tension on the yarn X of a carrier of the inner series becomes abnormally slack or breaks so as to permit the detector 89 to risc, or the yarn is exhausted from the bobbin, which also results in raising of the arm 89, .the machine will be stopped through actuation of the trip device in the same way as when the yarn Y of one of thebobbins of the outer series breaks, becomes abnormally slack, or is exhausted. Y

While this stop motion mechanism 1s thus effective and responsive to abnormal conditions of the yarn of the inner carriers, this mechanism does not in any way interfere with the normal operation of the machine or obstruct the path of the yarn leading from the carriers of the inner series to the braiding point.

.moved from the carrier for replacement by fresh bobbins and the yarn from such bobbins is easily carried by the fingers ofthe operator beneath the inner end of the carriage and beneath the ring 42 to the braiding p'oint, 1t is not necessary to employ any threading implement, and the operation of threading 1s not complicated by the provision of the guide 42 for the inner ends of the carriers.

In order to prevent the accumulation of lint and dust upon the moving parts of the machine, I provide an air-delivery nozzle 121 at a suitable point such as to deliver a blast of air transversely of the paths of movement of the inner and outer series of carriers. This nozzle receives air from a fan. blower 122 having a shaft 123 provided with a pulley which is driven by means of a belt 124 passing around a pulley 125 on the drive shaft 126 of the machine.

I may provide tensioning and take-up mechanism for the braided material of a type generally similar to that shown in my Patent 1,413,773 April 25, 192,2, but if the pres ent machine be arranged with the axis of rotation vertical, I prefer to arrange the takeup and winding mechanism for the material at a point below the machine, or at least to draw the braided material downwardly from the braiding point. With such take-up and tensioning means for the braided material, I prefer to employ measuring means and stop mechanism adapted to stop the machine after a predetermined length of material has been made.

The present machine is well adapted to be arranged with its axis of rotation horizontal as illustrated in Fig. 11.

In this figure the machine proper, indicated at B, is disposed With its axis horizontal and a frame 126 supported in any desired mannei' carries a spool or coil .127 -of core material C such, for example, as electrical conductor which is to be covered withwbraid. This core is passed between guide rollers 128 and thence passes into the braidingdie and out through the other end of the latter between rollers 129. In passing through the braiding machine a covering of braided material is placed upon the core and the covered core is -then drawn o and Wound upon a suitabledrum 130 which may be driven at proper speed through suitable connections to the drive mechanism of the braiding machine proper.

In Fig. 12 I have illustrated a modified arrangement which, in most respects, is similar to the machine above-described but wherein the inner guide rin 42h is carried by a spider 131 having a ub 132 turning freely on the hollow shaft 25 above the hub 45. The hub 132 is provided with an annular beveled gear which meshes with beveled pinions 133, carried by a ring secured to shaft 25, said pinions 133 meshing with an annular gear 134, carried by the hub 45. By this arrangement the guide rings 37 and 42b are maintained in fixed relative relation and by. mountin the brackets 53h directly above the ring 3 the entire top of the machine maybe left open and unobstructed so that the bobbins of the inner series are very easily accessible'and the threads from the inner bobbins pass over the upper edge of the rin 42b on their way to the braiding point. nder some con itions this latter form of apparatus is preferred to that abovedescribed.

Referring to Fig. 10, the Wheel 83 (the other carrier supporting and drivingwheels being of like construction) comprises an annulus 83B of suitable material, for example hard ber, and a hub consisting of a casing 83b whichv encloses a ball bearing having a central race 83c through which passes a screwthreaded post 83d. The wheel is disposed between parallel members 82a and 82b of the carriage, and collars 83 transmit the clamping pressure of the post 83d directly to the central race 83c of the ball bearing. The balls are thus always free, no matter how tightly the post 83d may be set up. The case 83b is filled with lubricant before the parts are assembled and the edges of the case are preferably peened over ontoI the annulus 83 to hold the parts'firmly in assembled relation.

I claim:

1. A braiding machine having a rotary support for a series of bobbin carriers, a pair of radially spaced coaxial guide rings carried by the support, and a second series of carriers disposed between said rings, each of said latter series of carriers having suproe porting elements at its inner and outer ends Which engage the inner and outer guide rings respectively, the supporting elements and guide rings being complementally shaped so as to support and guide the carriers of the second series While confining them against movement radially or axially of the machine.

2. A braiding machine having a series of independent bobbin carriers arranged radially about a common center, and concentric guide rings having circumferentially extending guides at their opposed faces for the reception of the outer andA inner ends respectively of the carriers.

3. A braiding machine having a series of independent bobbin carriers arranged radially about a common center, and concentric guide rings having circumferentially extending guide grooves in their opposed faces, and anti-friction rollers at the inner and outer ends of each carrier, the inner and outer rollers being disposed respectively in the inner and outer grooves.

Li. A braiding machine having a braiding die defining a braiding point, an annular rotary member concentric With the die, means for turning said member, a series of bobbinA carriers mounted upon said annular member, a` pair of radially spaced concentric guides fixed relativelyto said annular member, said guides having circumferentially extending grooves in their opposed peripheral faces a second series of bobbin carriers, said latter carriers engaging said guide grooves and being supported solely by the guides, the innermost of said concentric guides being Wholly to one side of the path of the yarns leading from the carriers of the second series to the braiding point, and means for moving the carriers of the second series along said guides.

5. A braiding machine having a rotary annular member, vradially spaced concentric guides carried by said member, said guides having circumferentially extending grooves, a series of bobbin carriers engaging said grooves and movable therealong in a circular path, a series of bobbin carriers fixedly mounted on the annular member, means for turning the annular member in one direction, and a pusher device engaging each of the first series of carriers for moving them along their guides in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the annular member.

6. A braiding machine of the class described comprising an outer rotating member and an inner rotating member, means for turning said outer and inner members in opposite directions, radially spaced coaxial guides defining an annular path for a bobbin carrier, carrier driving meansmounted on the inner rotating member', said driving means comprising a pinion, and an annular gear carried by the outer rotating member and meshing With said pinion.

7. 'A braiding machine having a pair of radially spaced concentric annular guides, a series of bobbin carriers supported by said guides and movable along the guides in a circular path, and drive means for moving each carrier, said drive means comprising a pusher element engageable with an element of the carrier, a hold back device to prevent overrunning of the carrier when the driving means comes to rest, and means for adjusting the hold back device relatively to the pusher element.

8. A braiding machine of the kind in which the carriers move in circular paths comprising'an inner and an outer series of braiding carriers, guides defining a pair of radially spaced concentric opposed guide grooves forming tracks for the inner and outer ends respectively of the carriers of the inner series, anti-friction means upon the carriers of the inner series, said anti-friction means engaging the respective guide grooves, means for directing yarns from the inner carriers in a plane Wholly to one' side of the inner of said guides, and means for moving the carriers of the respective series in opposite directions.

9. A braiding machine having a series of independent bobbin carriers, and guide means defining radially spaced coaxial grooves for the inner and outer ends, respectively, of each of said carriers, said grooves receivingA portions of the carriers and positively preventing substantial movement of either end of a carrier in the direction of the axis of the machine.

10. A braiding machine having a circular series of independent bobbin carriers, a circular support for the outer ends of the carriers, a circular support for the inner ends of the carriers, said circular supports being disposed substantially in the -plane of revolution of the carriers, each support comprising means for confining the corresponding end of a carrier to prevent movement thereof in either direction axially of the machine While permitting revolution of the carrier about the axis ofthe machine as a center.

11. A braiding machine having a series of inde-pendent bobbin carriers arranged radially about a common center, and a pair of radially spaced concentric relatively fixed guide rings having grooves in their opposed faces for the reception of the inner and outer ends respectively of the bobbin carriers.

12. A braiding machine having a series of independent bobbin carriers, radially spaced coaxial guides having endless channels for the reception ofthe opposite ends, respectively, of each of said carriers, said channels having axially spaced Walls receiving portions of each carrier between them.

13. A braiding machine having a rotary support for a circular series of bobbin carriers, a pair of concentric guide rings carried by said support, said rings having circumferentially-extending guide grooves in their opposed faces, a second series of carriers, and outer and inner anti-friction rollers engaging the groove in the outer ring, and the inner rollers engaging the groove in the inner ring.

14. A braiding machine having a circular member, bobbin carriers fixed to said member in spaced relation circumferentially of said member, a second series of bobbin carriers, each carrier having outer and inner supporting elements, radially spaced coaxial guides carried by said circular member, said guides having grooves for the reception of the outer and inner supporting elements respectively of the carriers of said second series and constituting the sole support for the bobbin car-I riers of said second series, the outer at least of said grooves having walls so arranged as to confine the supporting elements of the Carriers whereby to prevent axial or radial movement of the outer ends at least of said carriers, and means for turning the circular member in one direction, and a pusher device for moving each carrier of the second series in a direction opposite to that of the circular member.

15. A braiding machine having a braiding die defining the braiding point, an annular rotary member concentric with the die, means for turning said member, a series of bobbin carriers mounted upon said annular member, a pair of concentric guides fixed relatively to saidlannular member said concentric guides having opposed grooves, a second series of bobbin carriers, said latter carriers having parts engaging said grooves and being supported and guided solely by the latter, the innermost of said concentric guides being Wholly to one side of the path of the yarns leading from the carriers of the second series to the braiding point, means `Jfor moving the carriers of the second series along the guides in a direction opposite to the movement of said annular member, and means for guiding the yarns fromeach carrier of the first named series alternately over and under successive carriers of the second series.

vas the rotary members turn.

17. A braiding machine of the class described comprising a rotaryannular member, bobbin carriers fixed thereto, means carried by said member defining a pair of radially spaced opposed grooves adapted respectively to receive the outer and inner ends respectively of a bobbin carrier, a carrier movable along said grooves, means for driving said movable carrier comprising a roller movable bodily in a path substantially parallel to that of the movable carrier and normally engaging the latter to impel it along its path, and means carried by the annular member for rotating the roller about its oWn axis.

@18. A braiding machine of the class described comprising a rotary annular member, bobbin carriers fixed thereto, means dening an annular path for bobbin carriers, a carrier movable along said path, means for driving said movable carrier comprising a support coaxial With said annular member and rotating in the opposite direction, a bracket carried by the support, a shaft journalled in the bracket, a roller fixed to the shaft, said roller engaging Aan element of the carrier to impel the latter along its path, a pinion fixed to the shaft, and an annular gear secured to said annular member and meshing With the pinion.

19. A braiding machine having a rotary annular member and a series of bobbin carriers fixedly mounted thereon, a pair of concentric annular guides, a second series of bobbin carriers, said latter carriers being surnorted by said guides and being movable along the guides in a circular path, drive means for each carrier of the second series, said drive means revolving bodily in an annular path parallel 'to that of the carrier and comprising a rotary pusher roll engageable with an element of the carrier to impel the latter along its path, a pinion fixed relatively to said roll, and an annular gear fixed to said annular rotary member, said gear meshing with the pinion and thereby turning the pusher roll as the drive means revolves in its path of movement.

20. A braiding machine having a rotary annular member and a series of bobbin carriers fixedly mounted thereon, a pair of concentric annular guides, a second series of bobbin carriers, saidV Alatter carriers being supported by said guides and being movable along the guides in a circular path, drive means for each carrier of the second series, said drive means revolving bodily in an annular path parallel to that of the carrier and comprising a rotary shaft and a part driven thereby for impelling the carrier 'along its path, a pinion on said rotary sl' aft,

and an annular gear fixed to said annular rotating member, said gear meshing with the pinion and thereby turning the rotary shaft as the drive means revolves in its path.

'21. A braiding machine of the kind having outer and inner series of bobbin carriers movable in opposite directions in coaxial cirrolls of the carriers, a pinion fixed to the pusher roll, an annular gear With which said pinion meshes for rotating the roll, the yarn from carriers of the other series passing below the driving rolls and above the pusher rolls as the inner carriers revolve, one of the cooperating rolls of each pair having a sott and yielding tire to prevent injury to the yarn.

22. A braiding machine having a pair of concentric annular guides, a series of bobbin carriers supported by said guides andmovable along the guides in a circular path, and drive "means for moving each carrier, said drive means comprising a pusher roll or relatively large ldiameter for pushing the carrier along its path, a hold-back roll of relatively small diameter for preventing overrunning o the carrier when the drive means comes to rest, and adjustable supporting means for the hold-back roll permitting the latter to be moved toward and from the pusher roll.

23. A braiding machine comprising an outer and an inner series of bobbin carriers, means for revolving the carriers of the two series in opposite directions and radially spaced concentric annular guides having grooves for the reception respectively of the outer and inner ends of the carriers of the inner series, said grooves being s0 arranged as to guide the carriers of the inner series in a circular path about a substantially horizontal anis.

24. A braiding machine comprising a braiding die having a substantially horizontal passage therethrough, means for guiding a core member into said passage, an outer and an inner series of braiding carriers, means for revolving the carriers of the two series respectively in opposite directions about the axis of said passage, a pair of radially spaced concentric guides disposed in a substantially vertical plane for guiding the outer and inner ends respectively of the carriers of the inner series, the carriers of the inner series and the guides therefor havin interengaging complemental parts adapted positively to retain both ends of the inner carriers in the vertical plane defined by said grooves.

25. A circular braiding machine of the class described having a carriera Wheel for the carrier comprising an annulus and a hub, the hub consisting of a closed casing adapted to retain lubricant, and antifriction bearings within the casing.

26. A circular braiding machine of the class described having a carrier provided with spaced members, a wheel disposed between said members, a pvot post for the .aa/eases Wheel, said post passing through aligned openings in said spaced members and having screw-threaded engagement with one of them, the Wheel having a hub consisting of a closed casing adapted to contain lubricant, an anti-friction bearing Within the casing, said bearing comprising a central race member through which the pivot post passes, and means transmitting clamping pressure of the pivot post directly to said Acentrai race member.

27. braiding machine having a rotatable support or a series of bobbin carriers, guide means carried by said support, said guide means comprising radially spaced coaXially opposed annular surfaces, and a second series of bobbin carriers,\each carrier otsaid second series having supporting elements which engage said opposed annular guide surfaces respectively, the supporting elements and guide surfaces being so constructed and arranged as to support and guide the carriers While coniining the carriers against movement radially or axially of the machine, and means 'for moving the carriers of said second series.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 21st day of April, 1928.

' ANKER PETERSEN., 

